Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Sunday, May 11, 2008

For My Mom

Let me tell you a story. It's a gardening story about my mother and a little about me. My mother never in her 83 years of living tried to give anyone the impression that she liked gardening. She didn't like the hot sun and wasn't the least bit interested in sweating. She was city girl through and through. She loved air conditioning more than fresh air.

My mom moved to a retirement community last year. She loved it; made new friends and participated in most activities. She became part of a group of women called the Fun-shine Group. They were so popular the other residents wanted to sit with them. The tables were set up for four, but they always managed to squeeze in a few more chairs. She proudly told me about how the dining room staff had a special sign made just for their table. I think it said, "The Fun Shine Girls shine here. "

My mom was having a ball. Many times she would be too busy to talk to us. We learned never to call on Friday afternoons....that was Happy Hour in the lounge! We were tickled pink. She was blossoming.

The Fun-Shine Girls...Momma is the cute one in red.

I have no idea how she came to agree to help her good friends Jeri and Judy clean up the Rose beds, but she did. The grounds were lovely, but the roses were looking poorly. Someone organized the day and got everyone gloves and tools. Imagine my surprise, my mom in a garden.

I didn't hear from her that evening, but called the next day in eager anticipation to hear how she had faired at gardening! She told me all about it. How they cleaned out the old canes, weeded the beds and even how long it took. This was a total surprise, I thought my mom would be complaining to me about how bad it was, hating every moment of being in the sun, getting hot and dirty. But not one complaint from her! You can't imagine how excited I was to hear this tale; finally my mom and I would share an interest in gardening. I was off and running with fantasies of garden visits. I was so delighted. "Mom" I said, "so tell me, did you have a good time? Did you enjoy gardening?" "You've got to be kidding" she said, "I hated every minute of it! All the volunteers decided it was too hot and quit and Jeri and I were stuck cleaning the mess out all by ourselves." "You mean you didn't like any of it?" "Absolutely, not!" she replied. My balloon was burst, we weren't going to be bonding over the garden fence.

She supported her friend with out complaining or leaving her to finish alone. She was classy.

Nothing changed her opinion about gardening. She marveled at how much I loved to garden and how many plants I had stuffed into my yard. She told me that there was one plant she loved, it was the Hollyhock. They must have been special for her to even know the name of a garden plant! I planted them for her, but they haven't ever flowered.

This morning I went to the nurseries to see if anyone had Hollyhocks for sale. I suspect my mother liked the old fashioned single Hollyhocks that were around when she was younger. The pretty pinks, yellows and reds. Garden centers don't seem to carry them anymore. I'm going to look for plants or seeds. Maybe I can get them growing here and we can look at them and know she would have loved looking at them....from the house!

30 comments:

What a sweet and funny story! I can relate to your mom in terms of cooking--I sometimes manage to do some but I always hate it! Hollyhocks are one of my favorite flowers as well. Anyway, despite the gardening bug, your mom seems to have a lot of fun activities she enjoys and that keep her busy--good for her! (Sorry if that was past tense... I couldn't tell.)~ Monica

What a lovely post and tribute to your mom. She sounds like a wonderful woman. I hope you find those hollyhocks. I'm sure they'll flourish since you'll be planting them with all of your love for your mother. Happy Mother's Day!

My mom loved Gardenia bushes. I planted one at the old house and need to put one here too. It is nice to have a living memory of them around. I've seen some Hollyhock seeds at the Botanical Seed Company on my site. I'll go see if that's where I saw them. I've ordered from them and love their stuff. I know they take one year to grow and then bloom the second year. I hope you find some. Hugs to ya.

When we talk about our parents the funny stories seem to be the ones we remember the longest! I liked reading this one about your mother, Gail - and bet those friends at the retirement home miss her sense of humor, too.

Hi Gail, this was a wonderful tale of your mother's gardening adventure. Hollyhocks were played with by young girls who made dolls with them, the flower was the ballerina skirt. Do you think maybe that was their appeal for her? They are easy to grow from seed, just a mixed packet will be fine. Sow them in fall, they will germinate then and winter over with evergreen foliage, then start blooming the next year. Some are best treated as biennials as the japanese beetles are very drawn to them and make lacework out of the leaves. Good luck with them and Happy belated Mother's Day.Frances

I have luck in locating the seeds of what I think are the flowers she remembered. I am buying many packets and giving them to my sisters and other family friends. It makes me smile...

Thanks for the instructions for sowing the seeds; so far the plants I planted (2 years ago) have made lovely greenery and nothing else. This has been a banner year for flowering so maybe they will surprise me!

Gail, thanks for sharing your mom's gardening adventure ... reminds me of my late friend MB, who much preferred the beauty of a garden from the comfort of her air-conditioned sunroom. I really love that picture of the FunShine Girls. It says a lot about your mom's zest for life and sense of humor, qualities which you've obviously inherited.

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Madison Fling, 6/24-6/27 2021

I've been gardening here for more than 30 years. Plants have to be rugged to survive our wet winters and dry summers~that's why I plant Middle Tennessee and Cedar Glade natives that will grow and thrive in clay and limestone. You can email me at gailtiles@gmail.com with your wildflower gardening questions.

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